Paula Rae Tudor Gilbert

Paula Rae Tudor Gilbert, 76, went to be with the Lord on October 12, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents Raymond Rennie and Pauline Poarch Tudor, her sister Mary Jo Tudor Ozment, and her son in law Kevin Edward Brown. She is survived by her husband Stephen Alexander Gilbert, daughters Jennifer Marie Gilbert and Patricia Tudor Gilbert Brown, granddaughter Emma Marie Brown, and grandson Luke Edward Brown. Paula was born on February 25, 1948, in Richmond, Virginia. She grew up in the nearby town of Petersburg and was a proud Virginian. During childhood she could be found working the counter in her father’s drug store, playing with her sister Mary Jo, or attending church with her family at First Baptist Church. She graduated valedictorian from Petersburg High School. Paula had many loves, but perhaps her first was Meredith College. She graduated from Meredith College Magna Cum Laude in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. While at Meredith, she met the love of her life. She was married to Steve, a proud Wolfpack alumnus, for over 55 years. Steve and Paula were longtime residents of Mint Hill, North Carolina, where they raised their two beautiful daughters. Paula later received her master’s degree in counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1987. While in Mint Hill, Paula was an active member of Shamrock Drive Baptist Church and a casework supervisor at Crisis Assistance Ministry, both in Charlotte, North Carolina. After retirement, Paula and Steve moved to King, North Carolina, to be closer to her grandchildren. She was a dedicated member of First Presbyterian Church in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina. Paula was a lover of many things including the mountains, birds, flowers, and John Denver. Over her life, she had many dogs and cats, most recently her Sadie lady who stole her heart. She would like to be remembered as a believer in doing “for the least of these, my brethren.” Paula was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, nana, and daughter of Christ and will be missed by many. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Meredith College Alumnae Office. Donations can be made at https://community.meredith.edu/SupportMC. A celebration of life service will be conducted 11am, Saturday, October 19, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church in Pilot Mountain, NC with Rev. Travis D. Milam officiating.